The first woman in space: 'People shouldn’t waste money on wars'

In 1963 Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to go into space. On her 80th birthday, she looks back at a lifetime of immense political change

Parachuting was her first love. The moment she could, Valentina Tereshkova joined the renowned paramilitary flying club in her native Yaroslavl (without telling her mother) and trained almost every weekend. She has more than 90 jumps under her belt. "I did night jumps, too, on to land and water - the Volga river." Day and night, she tells me, "it's a very different experience, but both are wonderful", and she spreads her arms wide as though balancing herself in flight, radiating delight. "I learned to wait as long as possible before pulling the cord, just to feel the air; 40 seconds, 50 seconds ... It's not really falling; you experience enormous pleasure from the sensation of your whole body. It's marvellous."

It is hard to believe that the woman sitting across the table from me enthusing about her early hobby is 80. All right, she turned 80 only a few days ago, but even immaculate hair and makeup can only flatter so much. She looks to me not a day over 70. My gaze keeps alighting on her elegant hands with their flawless dark nail varnish. My own (rather younger) hands look wrinkled and gnarled by comparison.